U.S. patent number 5,441,341 [Application Number 08/395,273] was granted by the patent office on 1995-08-15 for mortar mixer with plastic drum having reinforced end walls.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Stone Construction Equipment, Inc.. Invention is credited to David W. Halsted.
United States Patent |
5,441,341 |
Halsted |
August 15, 1995 |
Mortar mixer with plastic drum having reinforced end walls
Abstract
A mortar mixer having a generally cylindrical, horizontally
disposed, pivotally supported mixer drum constructed of plastic
material and more specifically to improvements in the form of metal
end plates attached to and rigidifying the plastic end walls of the
generally cylindrical drum. The metal end plates are associated
with the end walls of the plastic drum in a unique manner to
reinforce and support the end walls of the plastic drum in order to
provide adequate support for maintaining the shape and
configuration of the generally cylindrical plastic drum during the
entire procedure of placing materials to be mixed in the drum,
mixing the materials and dumping the mixed materials from the
drum.
Inventors: |
Halsted; David W. (Hemlock,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Stone Construction Equipment,
Inc. (Honeoye, NY)
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Family
ID: |
21769138 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/395,273 |
Filed: |
February 27, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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15025 |
Feb 5, 1993 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
366/47; 220/645;
366/185 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01F
15/00824 (20130101); B28C 5/0806 (20130101); B28C
5/0862 (20130101); B28C 5/141 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B01F
15/00 (20060101); B28C 5/00 (20060101); B28C
5/08 (20060101); B28C 005/14 (); B28C 007/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/606,645,647
;366/45-47,53,62,64,66,185,189,219 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cooley; Charles E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jacobson, Price, Holman &
Stern
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/015,025, filed
Feb. 5, 1993 which was abandoned upon the filing hereof.
Claims
I claim:
1. A mixer drum comprising a generally cylindrical member having a
peripheral wall and end walls adapted to be supported generally
horizontally and adapted to receive a driven paddle assembly to mix
material therein, said peripheral wall including an upwardly
extending opening to receive material to be mixed and to discharge
mixed material when the drum is pivoted about a longitudinal drum
axis to move the opening from an upwardly extending position to a
downwardly inclined position, said cylindrical member and said end
Walls being constructed of plastic material, the improvement
comprising each end wall of said drum including a recess in the
outer surface thereof defined by an axially projecting flange
around the periphery of the end wall, metal end plates attached to
and substantially covering the entire outer surface of the end
walls, each recess receiving one of said end plates with the
periphery of each end plate engaging the periphery of the recess to
reinforce and rigidify the end walls, each end plate including a
centrally disposed axially outwardly extending cylindrical sleeve
adapted to receive and support a mixer paddle assembly shaft and
bearing and seal assembly, and adapted to support and retain the
shaft in the sleeve, said sleeves also adapted to support the drum
from support structure to enable tilting pivotal movement of the
drum about the longitudinal axis.
2. A mixer drum comprising a generally cylindrical member having a
peripheral wall and end walls adapted to be supported generally
horizontally and adapted to receive a driven paddle assembly to mix
material therein, said peripheral wall including an upwardly
extending opening to receive material to be mixed and to discharge
mixed material when the drum is pivoted about a longitudinal drum
axis to move the opening from an upwardly extending position to a
downwardly inclined position, said cylindrical member and said end
walls being constructed of plastic material, the improvement
comprising each end wall of said drum including a recess in the
outer surface thereof defined by an axially projecting flange
around the periphery of the end wall, metal end plates attached to
and substantially covering the entire outer surface of the end
walls, each recess receiving one of said end plates with the
periphery of each end plate engaging the periphery of the recess to
reinforce and rigidify the end walls, said recess in at least one
of said end walls including a radial extension aligned with the
opening in the cylindrical member, at least one of said end plates
including a correspondingly shaped radial projection received in
the radial extension, the radial projection on said one of said end
plates adapted to receive a handle thereon to enable the drum to be
pivoted to the position for discharging material therefrom.
3. A mixer drum comprising a generally cylindrical member having a
peripheral wall and end walls adapted to be supported generally
horizontally and adapted to receive a driven paddle assembly to mix
material therein, said peripheral wall including an upwardly
extending opening to receive material to be mixed and to discharge
mixed material when the drum is pivoted about longitudinal drum
axis to move the opening from an upwardly extending position to a
downwardly inclined position, said cylindrical member and said end
walls being constructed of plastic material, the improvement
comprising each end wall of said drum including a recess in the
outer surface thereof defined by an axially projecting flange
around the periphery of the end wall, metal end plates attached to
and substantially covering the entire outer surface of the end
walls, each recess receiving one of said end plates with the
periphery of each end plate engaging the periphery of the recess to
reinforce and rigidify the end walls, one of said end plates
including a stop member rigidly affixed thereto adapted to
cooperate with a latch member mounted on a support structure to
retain the drum with the opening extended upwardly for receiving
and mixing material and enabling release of the drum for pivotal
movement about the longitudinal axis to a material dumping
position.
4. A mixer drum comprising a generally cylindrical member having a
peripheral wall and end walls adapted to be supported generally
horizontally and adapted to receive a driven paddle assembly to mix
material therein, said peripheral wall including an upwardly
extending opening to receive material to be mixed and to discharge
mixed material when the drum is pivoted about a longitudinal drum
axis to move the opening from an upwardly extending position,to a
downwardly inclined position, said cylindrical member and said end
walls being constructed of plastic material, the improvement
comprising each end wall of said drum including a recess in the
outer surface thereof defined by an axially projecting flange
around the periphery of the end wall, metal end plates attached to
and substantially covering the entire outer surface of the end
walls, each recess receiving one of said end plates with the
periphery of each end plate engaging the periphery of the recess to
reinforce and rigidify the end walls, said opening including a
pouring spout in an edge portion thereof, a stationary guard fixed
in overlying relation to said opening, a pivotal guard mounted in
overlying relation to the pouring spout, and means interconnecting
the pivotal guard and drum to pivot the pivotal guard in response
to pivotal movement of said drum about the longitudinal axis.
5. A mortar mixer comprising a generally horizontally disposed drum
having a generally cylindrical peripheral wall and generally
circular end walls supported for pivoting about a longitudinal drum
axis, said drum being constructed of plastic material subject to
deformation upon introduction of and mixing of materials in the
drum, and an end plate engaged with and covering substantially the
entire outer surface of each end wall, each end wall including a
recess in the outer surface there, said recess being defined by a
peripheral, axially extending flange of unitary construction with
the end wall, one of said end plates being closely received in each
of said recesses, each of said end plates being generally circular
and constructed of rigid metal to reinforce said plastic end walls
to enable the introduction of and mixing of materials in the drum
without deformation of the plastic end walls, said recess in at
least one of said end walls including a radial extension, at least
one of said metal end plates including a radial projection closely
received in the radial extension adapted to receive a handle
thereon to enable the drum to be pivoted to a position for
discharging material therefrom.
6. A mortar mixer comprising a generally horizontally disposed drum
having a generally cylindrical peripheral wall and generally
circular end walls supported for pivoting about a longitudinal drum
axis, said drum being constructed of plastic material subject to
deformation upon introduction of and mixing of materials in the
drum, and an end plate engaged with and covering substantially the
entire outer surface of each end wall, each end wall including a
recess in the outer surface thereof, said recess being defined by a
peripheral, axially extending flange of unitary construction with
the end wall, one of said end plates being closely received in each
of said recesses, each of said end plates being generally circular
and constructed of rigid metal to reinforce said plastic end walls
to enable the introduction of and mixing of materials in the drum
without deformation of the plastic end walls, each of said metal
end plates including a centrally disposed, axially extending sleeve
on the outer surface thereof for rotatably supporting a mixer
paddle shaft extending outwardly through each plastic end wall of
the drum.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a mortar mixer having a
generally cylindrical, horizontally disposed, pivotally supported
mixer drum constructed of plastic material and more specifically to
improvements in the form of metal end plates attached to and
rigidifying the plastic end walls of the generally cylindrical
drum. The metal end plates are associated with the end walls of the
plastic drum in a unique manner to reinforce and support the end
walls of the plastic drum in order to provide adequate support for
maintaining the shape and configuration of the generally
cylindrical plastic drum during the entire procedure of placing
materials to be mixed in the drum, mixing the materials and dumping
the mixed materials from the drum.
2. Description Of The Prior Art
Mixers of the type utilizing a horizontally disposed mixing drum of
generally cylindrical configuration which is pivotally supported
from a mobile frame and which includes a power driven mixing blade
assembly oriented within the drum in sealed relation thereto with
the upper portion of the drum having an opening through which
material may be placed in the drum and through which the mixed
material may be discharged when the drum is tilted about a
horizontal axis are well known and have been manufactured for use
as mortar mixers, plaster mixers and fire proofing mixers and the
like for a number of years. The following U.S. patents disclose
various features of this type of mixer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,761,058, 3,932,006, 3,905,519, 3,963,258,
3,931,748, 4,043,540, 4,180,281
Recently, efforts have been made to construct the generally
cylindrical mixer drum of plastic material such as high density
cross linkable polyethylene or suitable equivalent plastic material
rather than being constructed of relatively heavy steel which is
subject to residual mortar sometimes being allowed to dry within
the mixing drum which results in labor intensive removal procedures
being required to break the mortar loose from the steel drum. The
following U.S. patents relate to this field of endeavor.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,473,789, 4,521,116, 4,750,840, 4,761,076,
5,118,198, 4,877,327, 4,435,082, 4,491,415, 4,756,623, 4,569,648,
4,711,582
As indicated by the above mentioned patents and as discussed in
several of the patents, mixing drums constructed of polyethylene
are not sufficiently strong to support materials above certain
densities and volumes due to the lack of ridigity of the plastic
material from which the drum is constructed. The above prior
patents disclose attempted solutions to this problem by the
introductions of cradles or reinforcing frame members associated
with the generally cylindrical polyethylene drums. However, the
above prior patents do not disclose the concept of the cylindrical
drum being constructed of polyethylene combined with rigid metal
end plates connected with the end walls of the polyethylene drum
with the metal end plates being associated with the end walls of
the drum in a unique manner to rigidify the end walls and
cylindrical drum in order that it can be used effectively with
heavier or more dense materials and larger total weight of
materials being mixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to improve a mortar mixer
having a plastic drum of unitary polyethylene cross linkable
material or other suitable plastic material in which the drum is
horizontally disposed and pivotally supported by a mobile frame
which also supports a power device such as a gasoline engine
drivingly connected to a rotatable mixer paddle assembly disposed
in the drum. The drum includes an opening disposed upwardly when
material is placed in the drum and when material is being mixed
within the drum with the drum then being pivoted to a dumping
position for discharging material from the drum. The improvement is
the provision of metal end plates secured against and to the outer
surface of the end walls of the plastic cylindrical drum.
Another object of the invention is to provide a mortar mixer with
plastic drum in accordances with the preceding object in which the
metal end plates are received and secured in recesses formed in the
outer surface of the end walls of the plastic drum with the end
plates being secured to the end walls by fastening devices. The end
plates each include an outwardly projecting central sleeve
receiving bearing and seal assemblies and the end plates also
include stop members to limit pivotal movement of the drum in one
direction and to secure the drum with the opening in the upwardly
oriented position with one of the end plates including a handle
structure attached thereto for manual pivotal movement of the drum
and a structure for pivoting the pivotal portion of the cover guard
for the opening in the drum to an open position when the drum is
tilted to discharge mixed material.
A further object of the invention is to provide a mortar mixer with
plastic drum including metal end plates covering substantially the
entire end walls of the plastic drum and secured within a recess
formed in the outer surface of the end walls to enable effective
rigidification and reinforcement of the end walls and plastic drum
to enable a mortar mixer to be used with various materials of high
density and high volumes and high total weight within the drum
without the drum flexing or deforming during use.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numeral refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 exploded perspective view illustrating the components of the
cylindrical drum and metal end plates spaced therefrom with other
components of the drum also being spaced from the drum.
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view illustrating one end of the drum
with end plate mounted thereon.
FIG. 3 is an end view of the opposite end of the drum with the end
plate mounted thereon.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drum illustrating
the construction of the drum and end plates.
FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view, on an enlarged scale,
illustrating the structure of the end wall of the drum and a metal
end plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now specifically to the drawings, the structure of the
mortar mixer is conventional with respect to the supporting frame,
power device and related structure with only the mixing drum being
disclosed 10, driven paddle assembly including paddle shaft 11 and
paddle 11a disclosed in previously cited U.S. Pat. No. 4,043,540.
Other details of the mortar mixer are disclosed in the previously
listed patents including the support structure 70 for the drum and
the latch member 72 disclosed in previously cited U.S. Pat. No.
3,905,519. The drum 10 is constructed of cross linkable
polyethylene or other suitable plastic material rather than being
constructed of steel. The plastic drum 10 includes a peripheral,
generally cylindrical wall 12 provided with end walls 14 of
generally circular configuration which are of unitary construction
with the peripheral wall 12. The portion of the drum 10 which
normally faces upwardly is provided with an enlarged opening 16
which receives material being placed in the drum and enables mixed
material to be poured from the drum when it is tilted or pivoted
about a generally horizontal axis defined by a horizontal mixer
paddle shaft 11 which includes mixer paddle 11a, spacers, bearings
and seals 13 at each end thereof and an input gear 15 at one end
thereof which is drivingly connected to a power source in a
conventional manner. The opening 16 in the drum is defined by a
laterally extending hollow wall 24 having a periphery defined by an
outwardly extending flange 26. One side of the opening 16 is
provided with a pouring spout 17 of reduced length which is defined
by end walls 18 and a side wall 19 to enable the mixed material to
be poured into a wheelbarrow or other container for transport to a
point of use remote from the mixer. The opening 16 is provided with
a stationary grid type guard 20 mounted rigidly on flange 26. The
guard 20 includes an upwardly projecting bag opener 21 centrally
located the thereon to facilitate opening of bags in a known
manner. The guard 20 is secured to flange 26 by a bracket 22
extending along the top surface of flange 26 and a bracket 23
extending along the bottom of flange 26. The bracket 23 is of right
angular cross-sectional configuration and the bracket 22 includes
upstanding ends 25. Fastening bolts or the like secure the brackets
22 and 23 to flange 26 and secure the bracket ends 25 to side
members 27 of guard 20. Additional side brackets 28 secure the side
members 27 of guard 20 to flange 26 in spaced relation to brackets
22 and 23.
The pouring spout 17 is provided with a pivotal grid-type guard 29
pivotally attached to side members 27 of guard 20 with the other
end of guard 29 being swingable between open and closed positions
by an actuator link or bar 30 connected to guard 29 at point 31 and
to the drum at point 32.
The improvement made in the drum 10 is the provision of a pair of
metal end plates 44 and 46 of generally circular configuration
which are closely received in circular recesses 48 formed in the
outer surface of each of the end walls 14 by flanges 49 as
illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The end plates 44 and 46 are each
provided with a centrally disposed cylindrical axial sleeve or
projection 50 which receives the bearing and seal assemblies 13 and
a threaded retainer 52 is provided for engaging the outer end of
the shaft 11 for retaining these components assembled within the
sleeve or projection 50. As illustrated the recess 48 in, each end
wall 14 includes a radial extension 53 and each of the metal end
plates 44 and 46 have a radial interengaging projection 54 received
in the recess extension 53 and apertures 56 receiving suitable
fasteners secure the end plates 44 and 46 in position and also
secure a handle 58 to the projection 54by using suitable fasteners.
The end plate 44 includes a stop member 60 welded thereto and the
end plate 46 includes a keeper stop member 62 with a cam plate 64
thereon for association with a pivotal latch 72 to retain the drum
in its position for mixing and enabling the drum to pivot to
dumping position when the pivotal latch 72 is released from the
keeper stop member 62.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flange 26 includes a groove 66
which opens outwardly of the wall 14 thus defining a generally
channel shaped flange which opens axially and which rigidifies the
periphery of the end walls 14 and also helps to rigidify the
peripheral wall 12. The metal end plates 44 and 46 are closely
received in the recesses 48 and secured to the outer surface of the
end walls 14 with fasteners at the center of the end plate just
outwardly of the cylindrical projection or sleeve 50 and through
the radially projecting portion 54 thereby rigidly securing the end
plates to the end walls for rigidifying the end walls and the
cylindrical drum 10 with the periphery of the end plates 44 and 46
being closely received within the recess 48 to further rigidify the
end walls and the generally cylindrical peripheral wall of the
drum.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and, accordingly, all suitable modifications
and equivalents ay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *